Here, There, and Everywhere

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Discover eastern Connecticut by exploring two new driving routes that highlight the area’s antiques venues and culinary offerings. The Antiques Trail takes you to dozens of country barns and antiques shops. Follow US Route 1 along the coast from Old Lyme to Mystic, or up CT 169, a designated scenic byway, from Lisbon to Woodstock near the Massachusetts border. Track down nearly 80 eateries and food-themed events in this part of the Nutmeg State with a new online Foodie Finds brochure. Find out about festivals, regional cuisine, and quirky food-related facts, like where to sip cider at the nation’s oldest steam-powered cider mill. Download both brochures online, or get a hard copy of the Antiques Trail from Mystic Country. 860-536-8822, www.mystic.org

BREW TOURS TAKE OFF IN MAINE

Maine Brew Bus

The 13-passenger Maine Brew Bus now offers three tours tour of southern Maine's top micro breweries.

Hop aboard a lime-green minibus and take a tour of southern Maine’s top microbreweries. The 13-passenger Maine Brew Bus offers three tours with stops at Allagash, Sebago, and Rising Tide breweries, Federal Jacks brew pub (the birthplace of Shipyard), and other beer-related hot spots. Each tour includes samples and snacks, a tour of the brewing operations, and a chance to chat with brewers. The Local Pour Tour visits a mix of beer, spirits, and coffee producers in Portland. $65-$75, depending on the trip length. 207-200-9111, www.themainebrewbus.com

More than 150 neon signs from Las Vegas casinos, restaurants, and shops dating to the 1930s are on display at the city’s Neon Museum. This venue includes a two-acre outdoor area called the Neon Boneyard with a kitschy and colorful assemblage of neon signs (the world’s largest collection), and the new La Concha Visitors Center, which is located in the newly restored La Concha Motel lobby, a seashell-shaped architectural beauty that was saved from demolition and moved to this site. One-hour public tours run every half-hour Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the last tour leaves at 4. Adults $18; students, seniors, veterans, and Nevada residents $12; children age 6 and under free. Advance purchase recommended. 702-387-6366, www.neonmuseum.org

KIDS SKI FREE IN COLORADO

Chad Schmidt/Keystone Resort

Children 12 and under can ski and snowboard for free every day at Keystone Resort in Colorado this year, with no cap on the number of kids per family.

Children 12 and under can ski and snowboard for free every day at Keystone Resort in Colorado this year, with no cap on the number of kids per family. The Kids Ski Free Program gives skiers and riders access to more than 135 trails and 20 lifts across the 3,000-acre area. The deal runs every day all season with no blackout dates. The only catch: You need to stay at the resort for a minimum of two nights. 877-204-7889, www.keystoneresort.com

A NEW CALIFORNIA AIRLINE, DUDE

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If you frequently hop around California when you travel west, check out Surf Air. This new all-you-can-fly, membership-based airline will launch flights between San Francisco, Monterey, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles within the next month. The airline will offer 30-second booking and cancellation services and first-class pampering on midsized executive aircraft, and it will enable passengers to bypass some of the niggly aspects of commercial travel (imagine: no lines and no extra fees). As an ongoing bonus, members can bring friends, family, or colleagues with them when they fly, at no cost, if there are empty seats. The airline plans to offer additional service to Las Vegas, Palm Springs, San Diego, Sacramento, and Lake Tahoe soon after launching. Monthly membership fee starts at $790 per person. 650-479-5833, www.surfair.com

CHARGE YOUR PHONE WITH A HAND-CRANK RADIO

Before you take off on your next road trip slip Eton’s FRX3 hand-crank solar weather radio in your emergency kit. This device comes in handy for recharging your phone, tracking forecasts, and getting AM-FM signals for news reports. The rechargeable radio gets all seven National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather band stations, and it has a built-in clock, alarm clock, and flashlight. To charge, place the device in direct sunlight, plug it into your laptop or other USB charging device, or spin the hand turbine. Available at Radio Shack and REI for $60. 800-872-2228, www.etoncorp.com

KEEP TABS ON YOUR PETS AND YOUR PAD

Stem Innovation’s new Izon 2.0 Wi-Fi Video Monitor lets you keep an eye on your furry friends, track visitors, and provide security for your home, apartment, business, or backyard while you are away. Or take this slim, travel-size device on the road and use it as a baby monitor. It can be set to record noise and motion. Download a free app onto your iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch and view live footage. Mount your Izon on the wall or ceiling at home, or perch it on a table or countertop while traveling. This rugged little device pivots on its magnetic base so you can dial in the viewing angle. $129.95. 954-239-7472, www.steminnovation.com